3 In A Row!

Technically, it's Sunday, but it's not my fault I couldn't post earlier. Well, technically, it's still Saturday (barely) in California, so I'm gonna consider this on time. The blasted cable was out for most of the day again. This is getting ridiculous. The cable company doesn't believe us. We need to get this resolved!
Well, the recital went well. There were TONS of kids. I was really surprised at how many there were. First the pre-schoolers sang a song, then the younger kids stood all around the stage and did songs with sign language between scenes of a play that the older kids did. I knew there was sign language involved, as Ethan was showing me words through the week. He ended up not standing in the back after all. He and his friend moved to the side where there was nobody standing in front of them. Sneaky little guys.
Here is the whole stage, I circled Ethan, to the left.

We were up in the balcony seating, so I moved to the side stairs and took photos from there. Thank goodness for my new zoom lens. It helped tremendously. The lighting was terrible, so the photos are kinda funky, but here’s an action shot of some sign language. I smudged out the other kids faces, security reasons, blah, blah...

We’re going to Glen’s dad’s tomorrow for a barbecue. Ken is going to look at some plans I have for an island for my “studio.” I like to stand when I work, it gives me a better perspective, and my back is killing me from hunching over the regular table. I bought bed risers from Linens ‘n Things, but they’re kinda wobbly. If Ken could help me make one, I’d be so jazzed. One of my favorite pieces of furniture is the changing table he made for Ethan, which is currently being used in our dining room as a storage buffet.
OK, it's 1:30 a.m. I really should get to bed. I drank 2 cokes today so I'm paying the price now.

Hell has frozen!

I believe that was when this was supposed to happen, right Tracie?
At least it was temporary.
Speaking of vehicles, I had a very happily surprising visit to the DMV yesterday. Actually, they don’t call it the DMV here, it’s the Secretary of State. Don't bother looking up DMV in the phone book, you won't get far. Anyway, our registration is due by the 31st, but we needed to wait for Glen’s paycheck to pay it. That left me only a few days to get in there and get it paid. Ethan had Bible School on Thursday, and a play date afterwards until 3. I figured we’d go after that and have plenty of time. The office closes at 4:30, and it’s about 20 minutes away. Once you’re in the lobby and have your number, you’re safe, right? I’m thinking they can’t kick you out even if it’s after 4:30. So we head toward the highway, only to find it at a standstill. Great. I don’t really know the back roads. I don’t think there are any around that highway entrance, so I turn around and go back into town and take the round about very back way to get there. It takes much longer, but I figure we’ll still make it by 4:15-4:20, still safe, right? Well, we pull into the parking lot and there is a big sign that says “Drive Through for Vehicle Registration Only” with a big arrow to the right. Then there’s a little sign that says “Please have all paperwork and payment filled out and ready.” O.K., mine is. I pull around the building to a bunch of drive up windows. I pull up, put my paperwork and check into the slot, about 30 seconds later I get a sticker back and I’m done. This story may bore you to tears, but it made my day. Maybe I forgot to mention the thunderstorm that we were in the middle of. Yep, no wet-rat hair for us. We were dry as a bone in the newly registered car. Woo Hoo! I remember having to renew my drivers license in California, just needed a new photo, no tests or anything, and it took 4-1/2 hours. I went right after lunch and was almost there til they closed.
So, our internet is out right now. I’m typing this in Word and will cut and paste when it comes back up. Ethan has his Bible School recital in about an hour. He keeps reminding us how he’ll be “On Stage” and has told me a million times exactly where to look for him, like I might not recognize him or something. Big shocker, he’ll be standing in the back row, not sitting in the front. I told him to get used to that, that’s where all of the tall kids end up, right Aunt Jude? I’ll bring my camera of course, and post a few photos tomorrow. Hey, if I make it 3 posts in 3 days, do I get a prize?
I will leave you with this. VIDEOS It’s a link to a whole bunch of 80’s music videos. There is an alphabetical list, you just click the song and the video plays. Not the greatest quality video, but it works. Rocker Judy probably won’t appreciate it much, but I thought Tracie might.

Party On, Dude. have a most excellent weekend!

WARNING: Gross photo towards bottom.

OK, I'll warn you. The photos are towards the bottom so they won't show up when the blog is opened, like Ethans teeth were (sorry Jude!) a few posts ago.
Here is a fairly recent photo of Ethan at the park. I haven't included any pictures for a while, so I thought I should.

He has been going to Vacation Bible School with his friend Jake this week. They have a recital tomorrow night of all of the songs and stuff that they have learned. This is a different friend and church than the one he was supposed to go with. That was the friend that bopped my eye, and we have yet to hear from them. I asked his mom several times for the Bible School info (she heads the "recruitment" committee) but haven't heard a word. Hmmm.... I'll include a photo of my eye a few days AFTER the dad made the comment of how it's not that bad. Do not go further if you don't want to see. I'm posting it for Noah since he apparently has a thing for black eyes? It's pretty much healed now. Just a little purple under the eye, and a teeny mark where my nose got cut. I definitely have cartilage damage. It still hurts like hell to the touch, as does my eyebrow. The second photo is after it started draining... lovely, I know.

I have more stuff to share (how can I not include the mini van picture I have of Tracie!!), but I will save them for another day. I will try to be better at posting, but our internet has been HORRIBLE lately. If it gets above 90 outside (which it consistantly has been) the cable goes out. Anyway, I have a few fun links I'll start posting.

One week later...

I still look like Mike Tyson hit me in the face. It is MUCH better, but still not good. I went to the grocery store a few nights ago to have a lady tell me how she's been there, I should try some makeup, it will make me feel better. She didn't seem to believe the baseball story. Even hearing it from Ethan, who was with me. I'm almost used to the stares and funny looks. I told Glen that we can't go out anywhere together for at least another month, or someone might confront him. I tried makeup, but it is way too black to even come close to hiding it. At least my groovy cool RayBans are big enough to cover the eye and the huge black circle under the eye. The bad thing is that now since the swelling has gone down, it seems as though my nose did get some damage. You can't really see it, but the side towards the top where my glasses were sitting on it has a big dent and it hurts and makes a clicking sound if I touch it (I know, stop touching it, right?). The dad of the kid that hit me came by to pick up the overnight bag that was left behind, and he had the b@lls to say (after a brief chuckle) "Oh, it doesn't look that bad!" Ya, right! That was the day after it happened. What a jerk. I don't expect a call to see if I'm ok, but I just find them not being particularly caring about what happened. I think if Ethan had done this to someone I would react a little differently. Who knows. I hope I never have to.
We had a dog over a few nights ago with the potential for adopting him. Not gonna happen. He was a nice enough dog, a black lab named Buddy. Not very original, I know. It actually turned out to be a lab-dalmation mix. All I know about Dalmations is that they have many things that can go wrong with them. Glen already knew all about them since he had briefly wanted a Dalmation when he was a firefighter. Glen checked the dog out and did not get a warm and fuzzy feeling. Ethan wanted nothing to do with him. He said before they came over that the only dog he wants is Max. Of course, I had to excuse myself to get composed before having to explain to him that we would be getting another dog, not necessarily this one. As soon as they left, Glen looked at me and said "No" and Ethan chimes in with "Ya, I didn't fall in love with it AT ALL! Right Mom, you didn't either." Anyway, I don't especially want a dog right now without a fence to begin with, so I think our search for a dog is on hold. The only reason we looked at this one is the owners are friends of Glen's work friend and they are moving from a house with a big yard to an apartment that won't allow pets.
Well, I think this is enough rambling for one night. I hope all is well with you.

OUCH!!!! That smarted!

I won't gross you out by posting a photo. Just trust me when I say it's NASTY. Judy - think back to high school when I was in the accident and my eye was swollen shut and black, blue and purple. That's the same eye today.
Yesterday Ethan, some of his friends and I were playing baseball in the backyard. I was pitcher. Whoever says a 6 year old can't hit HARD is full of crap! Ethan's friend (the same one who gave me strep throat the last time he was over) smacked a line drive straight into my face. I was literally stunned for about 2 seconds before running into the house for ice. That was the loudest "POP" I have heard in a long time. I was wearing my sunglasses, the same Raybans I have had since the early 90's. Glen said they probably saved my eye. As we were waiting in the urgent care clinic (for an hour) I kept thinking "Damn! I love those sunglasses! I'll never find them again!" AND - my favorite white shirt is now spattered with blood. I didn't realize I was bleeding, but I was getting some seriously weird looks in the waiting room. It turns out that my nose got a gash - not big enough for stitches, but big enough to somehow get blood all over the back door, kitchen floor, bathroom counter and mirror... Glen said it looked like a crime scene. If anyone ever comes in here with luminol, they'll definitely wonder what happened.
When all was said and done, (not so)Urgent Care couldn't do anything, nothing is broken, my vision is fine, just keep icing it, yadda yadda... we came home and cleaned up the blood. Luckily I didn't get any on the carpet (not sure how I managed that!). I went in the backyard to retrieve my surely smashed glasses. I found them completely intact laying in the dirt. There is not a scratch on them. WOO HOO!!! Now to find a good way to remove blood from clothes. I've heard peroxide works well. I guess we'll see.
On to lighter fare...
We had the BEST visit from Tracie and her family. HI TRACIE! I hope you had fun in Chicago!! Both of our cameras (which happened to be the exact same camera) pooped out so we went camera shopping. She made her decision way faster than could, so she got her replacement right away and I had to go back. Well, after researching and comparing and finally deciding on which model to get, they didn't have it. Nobody does, except on their websites! I needed it for fireworks, so I went with another model. I'm way to achey to deal with downloading and posting photos right now, so I'll share a few next time. I love the camera, though. I wish I had it for the Cardinal's game. The zoom is incredible. It even has sound for the video clips. I'll send you one if I can figure out how, Judy, from the fireworks display. He mentions you to his friend.
Well, I'm sure there are a zillion other things I need to catch up on, but I can't think right now. I can barely keep my one eye open because the lid is so heavy and full of blood. I know, I know, I really don't need to share such details, but I want to "share the experience" with you!!
Toodles til next time, which will be sooner than a month, I promise!! (cough, cough, if I got comments so I thought you 2 actually read this I might post more often...cough, cough).